Marcel den Dikken (the Graduate Center (CUNY)) is a prominent Germanicist
with numerous publications on the comparative syntax of various Germanic languages.
Given the object of study of our project, the participation of an experienced Germanicist
is essential (the other three collaborators’ primary research experience is in Romance).
One of den Dikken’s most recent articles (2005, Lingua 115.5:691-710) applies
his previous published research on Topic-Comment structures to the question of ‘subject
contact relatives’ in Appalachian varieties. Thus, his background allows us to readily
relate our findings on AppE with related phenomena in other Germanic languages. This
proves indispensable to the orientation of this research project in the larger context of
the question of universal grammar. It is also essential to the development of the
intellectual background of the graduate students we support.
In the realm of fieldwork, den Dikken (co-)taught a field methods course at
CUNY (with Prof. Charles Cairns) in Spring 2002, which employed a native speaker of
Rotuman (Shalom Tua'toko). One significant outgrowth of his work with the native
speaker is his recent book on the Noun Phrase in Rotuman. Den Dikken was also the
chief organizer for the 19th Comparative Germanic Syntax Workshop, held at the CUNY
Graduate Center June 3-5 (co-organized by Tortora). This conference featured Alison
Henry (author of Belfast English and Standard English) as an invited speaker, who spoke
about problems in the syntax of Ulster English.